AG Eric Schneiderman facing criminal investigation amid abuse claims

New York state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced his resignation after four women accused him of physical abuse. Schneiderman had taken on high-profile roles as a women's issues advocate and an opponent of Trump administration policies. (May 8)
AP

Former New York attorney general Eric Schneiderman in New York on March 21, 2016.(Photo11: Seth Wenig, AP)

ALBANY - Former New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman will face a criminal investigation after four women accused him of slapping, choking or spitting on them.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo appointed a special prosecutor late Tuesday to investigate Schneiderman's alleged actions, giving Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas the ability to bring charges if she deems them necessary.

But Cuomo said Vance's inquiry has the "appearance of a conflict of interest" because Schneiderman's office had been investigating Vance's handling of accusations against Harvey Weinstein at the time of Schneiderman's resignation.

"News of former Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's alleged improprieties as the State's chief legal officer are grossly disturbing and must be fully investigated," Cuomo said in a letter to Singas. "The brave women who chose to come forward deserve swift and definitive justice in this matter."

Cuomo also tasked acting Attorney General Barbara Underwood with investigating whether Schneiderman misused any state resources.

Three of the women had been romantic partners of Schneiderman, while the fourth said he slapped her after she rebuffed his advances.

Two of the women — Michelle Manning Barish and Tanya Selvaratnam — told their stories on the record, while a third spoke under the condition of anonymity and the fourth told her story to Manning Barish and Selvaratnam, according to the New Yorker account.

Schneiderman, who announced Monday that he would resign at close of business Tuesday, has said he "strongly contest(s)" the allegations.

Now disgraced former Attorney General Eric Schneiderman spoke Feb. 12, 2018, as he filed a lawsuit against the Weinstein Company over sexual-abuse allegations. Schneiderman resigned Monday, May 7, 2018, over allegations he abused four women(Photo11: Attorney General's Office Flickr account)

A spokesman for Schneiderman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the criminal inquiries.

In a statement Tuesday, Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy Sini's spokeswoman Sheila Kelly said an investigation was already underway in eastern Long Island.

Cuomo ordered Singas to work with Singas.

The incident in which Schneiderman was alleged to have slapped a woman who withdrew from his romantic advances took place in the Hamptons, which is within Suffolk County.

“The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office has commenced an investigation into the allegations of crimes committed in Suffolk County by Eric Schneiderman as set forth in The New Yorker article," Kelly said.

Vance, meanwhile, quickly opened an investigation Monday night into the allegations against Schneiderman, according to a spokesman.

But Vance received immediate pushback from women's advocacy groups, who questioned whether he has a conflict of interest.

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Earlier this year, Cuomo asked Schneiderman to investigate Vance's handling of accusations against disgraced film mogul Harvey Weinstein, which had not resulted in criminal charges.

Cuomo's order usurped Vance's investigation, which angered the Manhattan prosecutor, who sent a letter to Cuomo making the case that there is no conflict of interest because Schneiderman has stepped down.

In a statement, Cuomo counsel Alphonso David called Vance's letter "inappropriate and misguided."